cher

ciating with college weekends. He hadn't slept after sitting with Crizzle. Too many thou

didn'

, they

orning, and

warm with the early sun, the clouds stretched thin like pulled cotton. He sat on their usual spot-an uneven slab of concret

e of shading when t

se it w

bare, freckles standing out against the morning light. No hoodie this time j

e she didn't k

ward the spo

e

ile. Just listened to the

ispered, "Last nigh

eways. "A good on

't decid

sappear dramatically so yo

d. "Don't

But underneath it, the weight of what

ght," she sa

ut w

're pret

hpad aside. "So...

st. "I don't know. Part of me wants

e other

fied we w

t tha

ther fall with you th

thing raw and wide in h

ded, s

ward, like the mom

s were inc

hard he could he

s phone

g. Perfectly

inched. The

, pulling the phone out. A te

ying in. Surprise v

t, then showed

d. "Damn.

hed. "

moment was gone again, floati

what he says, ri

cour

arm brief, war

uncing behind her like

erythi

Ledger Family Apa

d hand and a wide grin. "Mikey, honey! You

melled like cinnamon and something buttery. Co

and flopped onto the couch. "Doe

ed. "We... haven't exa

om

side him. "Look, your dad's just... set in

e ceiling. "He won

id gently. "Show him what y

I'm not sure

she said firmly. "

the knot in his chest

– Back o

s, sketchpad in her lap. She was

Mikey, she

Eyes shadowed.

he visit?"

er than expected.

le wa

d. "Just... looked disappoi

ached. "

d of job I thought I'

her fists. "The

faintly.

"You're gonna prov

ope

again, quiet se

"I wanted to kiss

nked. "

u d

leane

d. "You di

n't wa

Charged.

t maybe we wait. Until we're b

even though it

right over his heart. "

er hand with

like that two almos

below, a car

erything el

not

r st